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Last year, the Mayor of London outlined a plan for London’s LEZ (Low Emissions Zone). The plan was derived after a study showing that the City of London has the worst air pollution in the UK and is among the worst in Europe.
This month, almost all of London will become a LEZ. The LEZ is a specified area where the most polluting diesel engined trucks, buses, coaches, large vans and minibuses will be required to meet specific emissions targets or pay a tariff/tax. The LEZ does not apply to cars or motorcycles.
How steep is the tariff? £200 (sadly, that translates these days to almost $400 US)
The measure will be enforced using cameras that will read license plates in the LEZ and check them against a database of registered vehicles that meet the emissions standards, have paid a daily charge, or are exempt. Those who are not in the database will have to pay the tariff.
While many are cheering the measure as a step forward, London Conservative mayoral candidate, Boris Johnson, has described the scheme as “the most punitive, draconian fining regime in the whole of Europe.”
What do you think? Would you like to see this scheme in more cities? Or a variation on this scheme? Many cities, such as Singapore, have similarly themed schemes to control congestion.
In 2005, when London adopted a “congestion tax”, traffic flow improved, congested dropped 30% and emissions were lowered. The Mayor of London told a group of American mayors, “We are the only city in the Western world where there’s a notable shift from car use to public transport. This is the only thing I’ve done in my political life that turned out better than I hoped.” Drivers who enter central London must buy daily, weekly or yearly passes and register their license plate numbers. License plates within the zone are noted, and motorists who have not paid the fee are fined. The fines are only imposed during work hours.
Would this work anywhere else?
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